Can the Knicks stop McCollum?
The New York Knicks walked into Monday night's Game 2 at Madison Square Garden feeling good after taking Game 1, but CJ McCollum and the Atlanta Hawks had other plans.
McCollum dropped a game-high 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting to lead Atlanta to a stunning 107-106 comeback victory, tying the first-round series at one game apiece.
After the loss, Josh Hart was honest about the defensive breakdowns that let McCollum take over.
"We just [have to] force him into tough shots," Hart said. "He's a really good offensive player; he's going to make shots. I think obviously we could do a better job of being more physical with those kind of things, and contesting and rebounding."
McCollum Took Over When It Mattered Most
The Hawks trailed by 14 in the third quarter and were still down 12 heading into the fourth, but McCollum flipped a switch and carried Atlanta home.
He scored six of his 32 points in the final two minutes, including a go-ahead baseline fadeaway over OG Anunoby with 33 seconds left that gave the Hawks a lead they would not give back.
The Knicks shot just 5-of-22 from the field in the fourth quarter while the Hawks went 13-of-18, and McCollum's midrange game was the biggest reason why.
He also added six assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block across 35 minutes, playing like a man on a mission after being traded from Washington to Atlanta in January as part of the Trae Young deal.
Through two games, McCollum has averaged 29.0 points on efficient shooting, and the Knicks have struggled to find the right matchup against him.
Jalen Brunson has spent time as his primary defender, but McCollum has repeatedly found ways to create separation and get to his spots in crunch time.
Hart Doing His Part Despite the Loss
Even with the loss, Hart has been one of the most complete players in this series.
He finished Game 2 with 15 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and in Game 1 he put up 11 points and 14 rebounds with five assists and three steals.
His averages of 13.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists show the all-around effort that has made him a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden and one of the Knicks' most important players on both ends.
The third-seeded Knicks (53-29) know they need to lock in defensively if they want to take control of this series against the sixth-seeded Hawks (46-36).
Hart's call for more physicality echoes what his teammates have said about tightening up their execution when it matters most.
Game 3 shifts to Atlanta on Thursday night, and if New York cannot figure out how to contain McCollum and clean up their late-game defense, what looked like a comfortable first-round matchup could turn into a real battle.